It’s only the third week of the season, but it will be quite a big game for Livingstone’s Blue Bears when they take on Virginia Union here at 7 p.m. Saturday.

The contest will be the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association opener for both Livingstone (1-1) and Union (1-1), and it will be the first night game ever played at Livingstone’s Alumni Stadium, where lights were installed last month.

Livingstone’s first-year head coach Greg Richardson will also be in the unusual position of coaching against the Panthers. A year ago, when Union upset Livingstone, Richardson was the Virginia school’s defensive coordinator.

Union was the preseason favorite to win the CIAA championship, but Livingstone is seeking its third straight title, so it promises to be some battle.

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A RE-UNION: Richardson, after being at Virginia Union the last two seasons, knows what to expect from the strong Panthers, and he admits the game has special meaning for him.

“There are some kids there who were there and the coaching staff who are friends who I’m familiar with, but again we talked as I departed there. We are all warriors. We are going to go after each other tooth and nail, then, after the game, we’ll shake hands.

“It’s a critical game for our conference,” he said. “This is a team that has been the preseason pick to win the conference. It’s a team that we are familiar with. They are a very, very good team. They’ve played some really good games the last two games. Our kids are looking forward to the challenge of matching ourselves up against the team that’s supposed to be the best in the conference,” said the Livingstone coach.

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CIAA HONOREES: The Blue Bears totally dominated the CIAA players of the week list with five players plus coach Richardson being honored for their efforts in Saturday night’s 37-34 come-from-behind overtime victory at Newberry, S.C.

Offensively, quarterback D’andre Hopper, a junior from Shelby, was selected by the conference as the offensive back of the week after completing 13 of 24 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns and running for 79 yards and two more TDs.

Right guard Trevas Miller, a 305-pound junior from Rutherfordton, was picked as the top offensive lineman for his blocking that helped the Bears accumulate 451 total yards.

Defensively, senior linebacker Terry Galloway, a 235-pounder from Winnabow, was chosen as the top lineman after making 15 tackles, including 13 solo hits.

Mike Morrison, a sophomore from Winston-Salem, earned rookie of the week honors by catching a 16-yard TD pass from Hopper with 4:32 left to play during Livingstone’s rally and finishing with two catches for 27 yards.

The specialty player of the week was Jim Terry of the Bears. The junior transfer from Clearwater, Fla., kicked two extra points in addition to the game-winning field goal.

Richardson was selected coach of the week after getting his first head coaching victory in his second game with the Bears.

Wide receiver Shannon Gainey received honorable mention after catching seven passes for 128 yards. The speedster from Greensboro has 178 all-purpose yards.

Gainey, a running back last year before being switched to wide receiver late in the season, is back at running back now, replacing Ray Chambers, the starter most of last season who left school after the season opener.

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CLUTCH EFFORT: Richardson had special praise for his quarterback for the big rally against Newberry, which led 34-12 going into the final period.

“D’andre Hopper, our quarterback, just made some incredible plays,” said Richardson. “After we scored our last touchdown (9-yard pass from Hopper to wide receiver Antrevion Hayes with 45 seconds left), they hit us with an unsportsmanlike penalty. That moved the ball back for our 2-point conversion to about the 17-yard line. D’andre made just a fantastic play that distance (quarterback keeper) to get us in position where we tied the game. ... We had a lot of people step up. Our receivers caught the ball really, really well. We had some first-time receivers, like Michael Morrison ... our third quarterback who we made a receiver, who made a very clutch touchdown.”

Richardson added, “The offensive line put D’andre in position where he could throw the ball, and I think they stepped up and grew up this last game, and that’s really big for us.

“As our offensive line matures, then I think he’ll have more time. I think he’s feeling more comfortable now in the pocket. Not very many people remember Andre threw for 2500 yards at Crest High School in one season. He’s been a great passer. D’andre’s getting good instruction from his coach, John Thomas. I can see bigger passing days for him.”

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FIRST CATCH:Antrevion Hayes, a sophomore wide receiver from Atlanta, scored Livingstone’s final touchdown with 45 seconds left in regulation when he caught a 9-yard pass from D’andre Hopper. Newberry statisticians, however, credited Shannon Gainey with that catch and reported it that way to Associated Press. The Post relied on AP for its information, so Hayes didn’t get credit for the touchdown in Sunday’s Post.

It was the, however, the first college reception for the 5-10, 165-pounder.

“Antrevion is a new player. He came out in the spring last year. In terms of on the field, he’s a freshman. He’s a very, very fast receiver. He has really good hands, and he’s a tough kid,” said Richardson.

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‘SHO’ REMEMBERED: The Livingstone football program hasn’t forgotten the late Shavarez “Sho” Thompson, who was murdered in a Charlotte retirement home on Dec. 27, 1998, just eight days after he had played in his final game for the Blue Bears in the Pioneer Bowl in Atlanta.

“The players have dedicated this season to Shavarez. The players want him to know that he’s always with us, and they want him to be always with us,” said Richardson.

“What the players resolved to do was, one, we are going to wear his No. 4 on our helmets for the remainder of the season. Additionally, we take Shavarez’ No. 4 jersey with us when we travel. It’s on the defensive bus in a seat ... and also his helmet is there. During the course of a game, his helmet and his jersey are draped across the bench where we sit before the games. ... He’s going to be with us, and we want him to share in every victory we have,” said the coach.

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